Friday, March 28, 2025
Zap2It Disappeared...Sort Of
Yesterday I visited popular TV listings site Zap2It only to have it redirect to the Newsnation TV schedule. According to Distractify, this has been occurring to users since Tuesday, March 25. One can only assume that Zap2It's parent company, Nexstar Media Group, decided to discontinue the popular television listings site without telling anybody. As it turns out that is not the case.
A Google search for "Zap2It" reveals that the Zap2It listings are now available on Gracenote. As to what Gracenote is, according to its About Page, it is the "content data business unit of Nielsen that powers innovative entertainment experiences for the world’s leading media companies." If "Neilsen" sounds familiar, it's because they are the ones responsible for the well-known Nielsen television ratings. The Zap2It ratings appear to be functional for the most part. One can still use their Zap2It login and credentials. The listings themselves are intact. The only problem I have found so far is the search. While I had no problem searching for various television shows, it appears to be missing some of the results for movies Zap2It has had. Neither Stand and Deliver (1988) nor Twenty Bucks (1992) came up in search. I am hoping this is just a glitch, and I have notified Gracenote about it.
As to Nexstar, they really don't want to know my opinion of them, but suffice it to say that I think they are jerks (and that's putting it mildly). They did not email Zap2It users and let them know that the site was closing down and listings would now be available on Gracenote. They did not even issue a press release letting people know it was being shut down. They didn't even set up a page at Zap2It.com letting people know the site was closed and the listings were now on Gracenote. It simply redirects to the NewsNation schedule. This shows a lack of respect for Zap2It users. I know I won't be watching NewsNation ever again because of this. If Nexstar disrespects Zap2It users, then they'll disrespect NewsNation viewers too.
As it is, I think Nexstar might regret their mistake. I am not sure, but I think Zap2It may be the most popular online television listings out there. If not, it is definitely one of the most popular. Zap2It is also fairly old. It was launched nearly 25 years ago, on April 3 2000 by Tribune Media Services. Zap2It would change over the years, but the listings were a constant. It was bought, along with the rest of Tribune Media, by Nexstar in 2019. It is with good reason that many users missed Zap2It when the site was redirecting to NewsNation's schedule. What is more, they complained about it, on Bluesky, on Reddit, on X, and yet other places. I don't think any of these users are happy with NexStar and I have to think they will be loath to use Nexstar's products in the future. Zap2It is the best TV listings online and it has a loyal following, and its users are faithful to it.
Thursday, March 27, 2025
Two Comic Book Blogs Worth Checking Out
Although I don't write about them terribly much in this blog, most of my readers know I have been a comic book fan since childhood. And I am fascinated by the history of the medium. Over the years I have read several blogs on comic book history, as well as the excellent "Comic Book Legends Revealed" feature by Brian Cronin at CBR. Here I want to tell you about two of my favourite blogs on comic book history.
The first is written by a comic book professional. Todd's Blog: Todd Klein on lettering, literature and more is the blog of letterer and logo designer Todd Klein. Todd Klein has long worked with DC Comics, on everything from Swamp Thing to Detective Comics to Sandman. I am convinced that no one knows more about the history of lettering and logos at DC Comics and comic books in general than Mr. Klein. Do you want to learn more about the legendary Ira Schnapp, the long-time letter at DC Comics from the Golden Age into the Silver Age? Todd's Blog is where you can do that. Curious about Gaspar Saladino's work on Justice League of America? You can read up on it at Todd's Blog. Todd Klein writes about a lot more than comic books and lettering, but all of it is fascinating.
The second is Comics Archaeology, which features retrospectives and reviews of old comic books, primarily but not exclusively from the Silver Age. They just completed a retrospective of the entire run of one of my favourite titles My Greatest Adventure/Doom Patrol volume 1, taking a look at every single issue. Their reviews are a delightful combination of history and humour, and you can learn a lot from their posts.
If you enjoy comic book history, I recommend checking out both of these blogs. They are both thoroughly informative and entertaining.
The first is written by a comic book professional. Todd's Blog: Todd Klein on lettering, literature and more is the blog of letterer and logo designer Todd Klein. Todd Klein has long worked with DC Comics, on everything from Swamp Thing to Detective Comics to Sandman. I am convinced that no one knows more about the history of lettering and logos at DC Comics and comic books in general than Mr. Klein. Do you want to learn more about the legendary Ira Schnapp, the long-time letter at DC Comics from the Golden Age into the Silver Age? Todd's Blog is where you can do that. Curious about Gaspar Saladino's work on Justice League of America? You can read up on it at Todd's Blog. Todd Klein writes about a lot more than comic books and lettering, but all of it is fascinating.
The second is Comics Archaeology, which features retrospectives and reviews of old comic books, primarily but not exclusively from the Silver Age. They just completed a retrospective of the entire run of one of my favourite titles My Greatest Adventure/Doom Patrol volume 1, taking a look at every single issue. Their reviews are a delightful combination of history and humour, and you can learn a lot from their posts.
If you enjoy comic book history, I recommend checking out both of these blogs. They are both thoroughly informative and entertaining.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
"Sgt. Steve" by Saigon Kick
I have always loved the band Saigon Kick. Back in the day they were classed as heavy metal or alternative metal, but to be3 honest their styles are so diverse that it is hard to place them in any one genre. Indeed, many of their songs are Beatlesque. Among them is "Sgt Steve," from their 1993 album Water. "Sgt. Steve" describes a far-right conspiracy theorist who is clearly experiencing paranoid delusions. If anything, it would seem to be even more timely now than it was in 1993.
Monday, March 24, 2025
Thank You for a Successful 11h Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon Blogathon
The 11th Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon was this weekend and I want to thank everyone who participated for a successful blogathon. This year's entries dealt with television show episodes from the Fifties to the Eighties. They also covered genres from mystery to Western to sitcoms to horror. If the Fates allow, I can guarantee that there will be a 12 Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon in March 2026.
Saturday, March 22, 2025
Alfred Hitchcock Presents: "Arthur" (Season 5, Episode 1)
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Laurence Harvey as Arthur |
(This blog post is part of the 11th Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon, hosted by A Shroud of Thoughts)
Aside from The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents might well remain the most famous American anthology television show ever made. Like many famous shows, various misconceptions have developed about Alfred Hitchcock Presents over the years. The first is that Alfred Hitchcock had nothing to do with the show beyond hosting it. The second is that he was deeply involved in the production of the show. The truth is actually somewhere in between. Indeed, Alfred Hitchcock directed the occasional episode. Among the best of the episodes directed by the master himself was "Arthur," which opened the show's fifth season.
"Arthur" centres on Arthur Williams (Laurence Harvey), the operator of a thoroughly modern chicken farm where he even makes his own chicken feed. Arthur is engaged to a beautiful woman named Helen (Hazel Court). Unfortunately, Helen wants to see the world beyond the chicken farm and ultimately marries another man, a rich gambler named Stanley Braithwaite. As it turns out, life with Stanley isn't as enjoyable as Helen thought it would be, and she comes back after about a year. As it turns out, Arthur has no desire of welcoming Helen back into his life and has a rather novel solution to her return. In addition to Laurence Harvey and Hazel Court, the cast also features Patrick Macnee, later famous for The Avengers, as Police Sgt. John Theron and Robert Douglas as Inspector Ben Liebenberg.
"Arthur" was based on the 1948 short story "Being a Murderer Myself" by Arthur Williams. The episode "Arthur" follows the story fairly closely, although there are some differences. Arthur Williams's original story is set in South Africa, while the episode is set in New Zealand. Another difference is that in the story the protagonist's former girlfriend is named Susan, while in the episode she is named Helen. Both the story and the episode are narrated in first person, although in the story the narrator is unnamed. Of course, given "Being a Murderer Myself" by written by Arthur Williams, it is safe to assume the narrator's name is indeed "Arthur Williams," the name of the episode's protagonist.
As to Arthur Williams himself, "Being a Murderer Myself" was the only story he ever wrote. Legendary British crime writer Julian Symons included "Being a Murderer Myself" in The Penguin Classic Crime Omnibus, which he edited. He figured out that Arthur Williams was Peter Barry Way, a South African born in 1917,
As to Peter Barry Way's inspiration for "Being a Murderer Myself," according to Jack Seabrook in his excellent write-up on "Arthur" on the bare•bones e-zine, Peter Barry Way may have based the story on an actual murder case that took place in Sussex, England in 1925. Norman Thorne was a chicken farmer who was engaged to Elsie Cameron. Thorne started seeing another woman and decided that he no longer wanted to marry Miss Cameron. In an attempt to force Thorne to marry her, Miss Cameron claimed she was pregnant, even though the two of them had never consummated their relationship. Elise Cameron went to visit Norman Thorne on December 5 1924, after which she was not seen again. The police launched an investigation and ultimately found her overnight bag and other items on Thorne's farm. Thorne ultimately admitted he had dismembered her body, but claimed she had committed suicide by hanging, although the police found no evidence of such. In the end, Throne was found guilty by a jury and hanged for murder. Both "Being a Murderer Myself" and "Arthur" resemble the Norman Thorne case to a large degree, the biggest differences being that it is Susan/Helen who cheats on Arthur, Arthur had a much more original means of disposing of the body and, at least in the short story he apparently gets away with his crime.
"Arthur" would not be the first time that Alfred Hitchcock and the short story "Being a Murderer Myself" crossed paths. It was one of the stories that was included in the anthology Alfred Hitchcock Presents: Stories They Wouldn't Let Me Do on TV, published by Simon & Schuster in 1957. In the preface, Hitchcock claims that this collection includes stories that "cannot be produced on the home screen." Of course, "Being a Murderer Myself" obviously found its way to the small screen or else I would not be writing this blog post.
Indeed, Alfred Hitchcock obviously loved the story, as it is one of the 17 episodes of the show that he directed. The teleplay was written by James Cavanagh, who wrote 15 episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents. In addition to having been directed by Alfred Hitchcock himself and having been adapted by one of the show's more prolific writers, "Arthur" also featured one of the show's best casts. Laurence Harvey had already made a name for himself, having appeared in such films as Romeo and Juliet (1954) and Room at the Top (1958). Hazel Court had appeared in several television shows and movies, among them The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), which transformed Hammer from a minor studio to one of the greatest makers of horror movies of all time. Patrick Macnee was only a year away from becoming John Steed on The Avengers and had appeared in Scrooge (1951), Les Girls (1957) and other films.
While both Alfred Hitchcock's direction and James Cavanagh's teleplay are excellent, it is largely the cast that makes "Arthur" one of the best episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Given he narrates the episode, "Arthur" would not have worked if Laurence Harvey had not given a pitch-perfect performance. Fortunately, he does, from the very opening narration in which he addresses the viewer directly. Arthur is convinced he is clever and even claims to be "quite normal." Despite Arthur's claims otherwise, Arthur is hardly normal and possesses so much self-confidence that he is clearly an egomaniac. Fortunately, he also possesses a good deal of charm, which drives the episode forward.
Viewers familiar with Alfred Hitchcock Presents know that many episodes end with a culprit apparently getting away with their crime. "Arthur" is no different in this respect. Of course, this would violate the National Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters' Television Code, which prohibited criminals from getting away with crimes. It was then in his outro that Alfred Hitchcock would explain how any perpetrators of crimes got their comeuppance, often humorously. "Arthur" features what might be the best and most hilarious comeuppance visited upon a criminal in an Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode ever, made all the better by Hitch's delivery of it.
Alfred Hitchcock Presents and its continuation The Alfred Hitchcock Hour produced many fine episodes and it is honestly difficult for me to choose only one as my favourite, but "Arthur" definitely numbers among them. I have always loved dark humour and the cast delivers superb performances across the board. Alfred Hitchcock's outro makes it all the better. Arthur Williams may have only written one story, but it made for a great Alfred Hitchcock Presents episode.
Friday, March 21, 2025
The 11th Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon Has Arrived
The 11th Annual Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon has arrived. As in past years, this year's blogathon features several entries on episodes from classic television shows.
For those of you who are participating in the blogathon, I ask that you link to this page. I will be updating this page with links to the various blog posts that are part of this blogathon throughout the weekend. If you want a graphic for your post, I have several on the announcement page here.
Without further ado, here are this year's posts.
Realweedgiemidget Reviews: "TV… Playbacking One of Gena Rowlands’ Television Roles in a Detective Series"
Hamlette's Soliloquy: "'The Avenger' (Bonanza) 1960"
From Beyond the Time Barrier: "A Rolling Reporter Gathers Some Moss: 'The Spanish Moss Murders'"
Smoke in the Library: "Mayberry RFD: New Couple in Town"
Make Mine Film Noir: "The Dick Van Dyke Show: 'The Big Max Calvada' Episode (November 20, 1963) is Film Noir Played for Laughs"
Another Old Movie Blog: "Eve Arden in 'Miss Aggie's Farewell Performance' on Ellery Queen"
Liberal England: "Rising Damp: Rigsby burning love wood outside Miss Jones's hut "
A Shroud of Thoughts: "Alfred Hitchcock Presents 'Arthur' (Season 5, Episode 1)"
18 Cinema Lane: "Sally Watches…Highway to Heaven"
Moon in Gemini: "All in the Family: 'It Was a Freak Accident!'"
A Scunner Deeply: "Favourite TV Show Episode Blogathon 2025 – 21 Jump Street – 'Mike’s P.O.V.'"
Whimsically Classic: "11th Annual Favorite TV Show Episode Blogathon–Mama’s Family, 'The Big Nap;"
The Midnite Drive-In: "Life After Life"
Thursday, March 20, 2025
Godspeed Jesse Colin Young of The Youngbloods
Jesse Colin Young, founding member, lead vocalist, and bassist of The Youngbloods, died on March 16 2025 at the age of 83. Their version of Chet Powers's song "Get Together" has become an iconic and identified with many with the decade of the Sixties.
Jesse Colin Young was born Perry Miller in Queens, New York City on November 22 1941. His mother was a violinist, while his father was an accountant who loved music. He learned to play piano while still very young. He attended He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, where he studied classical guitar. He later attended Ohio State University and still later New York University.While attending college he performed as a musician and he eventually left school to perform professionally full-time.
It was in the early Sixties that Jesse Colin Young met pianist, vibraphonist, and music producer Bobby Scott. This lead to Jesse Colin Young's first solo album, The Soul of a City Boy in 1964. A second solo album Young Blood followed in 1965. Jesse Colin Young met folk singer Jerry Corbitt in the mid-Sixties. In January 1965 the two of them began touring Canada as a duo. Eventually they started billing themselves as "The Youngbloods," after Jesse Colin Young's second album. They eventually added Lowell "Banana" Levinger and drummer Joe Bauer.
The Youngbloods signed to RCA Victor and their self-titled, debut album was released in January 1967. Their future hit, "Get Together," was on that album and was released as a single, but it only peaked at no. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their debut album was followed by the albums Earth Music in 1967 and Elephant Mountain in 1969. It was after"Get Together" was used in public service announcements for the National Council of Christians and Jews that the song was reissued and reached no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969.
The Youngbloods would release two more albums, Good and Dusty in 1971 and High on a Ridge Top in 1972 before breaking up. Jesse Colin Young then returned to his solo career. His first solo album after The Youngbloods, Together, was released in 1972. He saw some success in the Seventies with the albums Song for Juli (1973), Light Shine (1974), Songbird (1975), and Love on the Wing (1977). From 1979 to 2019 Jesse Colin Young released ten more studio albums. Jesse Colin Young also released six live albums and several compilation albums.
While "Get Together (originally titled "Let's Get Together")" had been recorded a few times before The Youngbloods did so in late 1966, it was theirs that became the quintessential version. There was perhaps good reason for this, as the band and Jesse Colin Young suited the song perfectly. With his rich tenor vocals and his skill as a musician, as well as the skill of the other Youngbloods, it was a superior rendition of the song. And while Jesse Colin Young did not write "Get Together," The Youngbloods' version of the song was similar to songs he wrote himself. His songs were characterized by socially conscious lyrics, his warm vocals, and superior guitar work. If Jesse Colin Young continued to have success after The Youngbloods broke up, it was because he was very talented.
Jesse Colin Young was born Perry Miller in Queens, New York City on November 22 1941. His mother was a violinist, while his father was an accountant who loved music. He learned to play piano while still very young. He attended He attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, where he studied classical guitar. He later attended Ohio State University and still later New York University.While attending college he performed as a musician and he eventually left school to perform professionally full-time.
It was in the early Sixties that Jesse Colin Young met pianist, vibraphonist, and music producer Bobby Scott. This lead to Jesse Colin Young's first solo album, The Soul of a City Boy in 1964. A second solo album Young Blood followed in 1965. Jesse Colin Young met folk singer Jerry Corbitt in the mid-Sixties. In January 1965 the two of them began touring Canada as a duo. Eventually they started billing themselves as "The Youngbloods," after Jesse Colin Young's second album. They eventually added Lowell "Banana" Levinger and drummer Joe Bauer.
The Youngbloods signed to RCA Victor and their self-titled, debut album was released in January 1967. Their future hit, "Get Together," was on that album and was released as a single, but it only peaked at no. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100. Their debut album was followed by the albums Earth Music in 1967 and Elephant Mountain in 1969. It was after"Get Together" was used in public service announcements for the National Council of Christians and Jews that the song was reissued and reached no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969.
The Youngbloods would release two more albums, Good and Dusty in 1971 and High on a Ridge Top in 1972 before breaking up. Jesse Colin Young then returned to his solo career. His first solo album after The Youngbloods, Together, was released in 1972. He saw some success in the Seventies with the albums Song for Juli (1973), Light Shine (1974), Songbird (1975), and Love on the Wing (1977). From 1979 to 2019 Jesse Colin Young released ten more studio albums. Jesse Colin Young also released six live albums and several compilation albums.
While "Get Together (originally titled "Let's Get Together")" had been recorded a few times before The Youngbloods did so in late 1966, it was theirs that became the quintessential version. There was perhaps good reason for this, as the band and Jesse Colin Young suited the song perfectly. With his rich tenor vocals and his skill as a musician, as well as the skill of the other Youngbloods, it was a superior rendition of the song. And while Jesse Colin Young did not write "Get Together," The Youngbloods' version of the song was similar to songs he wrote himself. His songs were characterized by socially conscious lyrics, his warm vocals, and superior guitar work. If Jesse Colin Young continued to have success after The Youngbloods broke up, it was because he was very talented.
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